June 3 on Donuts

Donuts costs P42 each. Half a dozen cost P252. A dozen cost 380 and two dozens cost 595.

Describe strategies that allow us to estimate the cost per donut easily.

June 2 on Cafe

Marcus buys 3 cups of hot beverages and they cost $5.10 .

All the beverages are different.

What hot beverages did he buy? How many possible answers are there?

Other than guess and check, students can use reasoning to solve this problem. They are required to use their knowledge about number properties to help them reason.

May 31 on Reservoirs

Soil samples will be taken from reservoir beds, at 0.9m, 1.9m, 2.9m below the bed, and if possible, at every 3m, up to a depth of about 30m | Straits Times

June 1 on Torch Bearers

Charles is 83 years old. Jesy turns 9 years old on the day of the parade. 

They are the oldest and youngest torch bearers at SEA Games Torch Parade.

How much older is Charles than Jesy?

May 30 on Big Numbers

Big numbers are not so common.

But in today's newspaper, I come across several. Parents can use the newspaper as a source of guiding their children in learning mathematics.

In 1974, anthropologists in Ethiopia found the astonishing fossilised remains of a human-like creature who last walked the planet some 3.2 million years ago. | Straits Times

The above can lead to an understanding of the magnitude of the million. The fact that this year is just 2015 years after the birth of Christ makes 3.2 million years ago seems like several lifetime (literally!!) away.

Did you know that Singapore does quite a bit of business in exporting ornamental fish?

Value of Ornamental Fish Exported

2008 USD69 million

2009 USD60 million

2012 USD62 million

2013 USD56 million

Parents can use this with upper primary children to calculate percentage change. Or learn the use of line graphs to make predictions.

May 29 on Drinks

For every banana used, how many of each fruit are needed?

For example, we would need 6 fourths mangoes. That's 1.5 mangoes - so we need 2 mangoes and have half left over. 

May 28 on Market Place

Tomatoes are sold at 12 cents per 100g.

Sweet potatoes are sold at 35 cents per 100g.

Oranges cost $4.50 for 5.

Cucumbers 60 cents each or $1 for two.